Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-01

uuired almost the continual changing of
sails and the hauling of sheets, Inc
sea continued turbulent ana tne
yacht at times rolled so violently
as to threaten the stability OF the spars;
1t was now that the storm trysail did good
service, for when spread to counter bal
ance the deficiency of the canvass astern
it carried the Yacht along much faster,
lightened her much 10y the head and pre-
vented her taking such quantities OF water
on deck as when under the man SAL.
EARLY Tuesday morning the wind rose
from the northeast and by daylight 1t
blew gales. The canvass was reduced
to double reeted mainsails foteSall Win
bonnet out and reefed forestaysall
The boat was bowling along at rate OF
~ knots with dry deck when between
and in the morning the wind shifted TO
south southeast, blowing at rate OF 60
miles an hour The sudden change caused
ugly cross seas, the crests OF waves break
ing over the rails in rapid SUCCESSION anu
keeping the decks almost constantly, SUI
merged. Toward midnight the Wlhd ana
sea subsidized considerably.
The most terrific storm OF the series oc
Cured on st. Patricks day. 1t was not
unexpected, for the indicator on the barOm-
eter, whose tendency hau been doWn-
ward for three days, suddenly dropped.
The storm first developed soon after MD
night in sharp squalls from lhe South-
ftlul for time, coming from the south
west At 10 a. IN. it began blowing with
great velocity, and by noon had become
hurricane and two hours later the
winds speed was estimated at 50 miles an
hour. The waves were almost mountain
high. Their surface was lashed into
snow-white foam and as the head of one
rose higher than another the wind car
ried it off in dense spray, which, when
driven into ones face, felt like stabs from
coarse pointed needles. The roaring of
the wind was like prolonged peal of
thunder and the resemblance was com
pleted by an occasional vivid flash of
lightning. This was a severe test for SO
small boat as the Coronet AS she sank
in the trough of the sea it seemed as If the
waves, which were half-mast high, would
engulf her. Under reefed foretrysail
she was plunged along 10y the wind at the
rate of nine knots and despite the great
volumes of water breaking over her deck
weathered the storm wonderfully well.
When at $50 p. m. the fury of the hur
ricane seemed to be increased instead of
diminishing Capt Crosby decided to lay
to until the storm had ceased which was
done and the schooner lay to for some
time. The weather Friday and Saturday,
18th and 10Th. began. with light breezes
and in the afternoon there were gale,
though moderate compared with Thurs
days big blow. Saturday four vessels
were sighted.
The theory that storms swing round
in II circle was thoroughly proved by
the C0ronet's experience on the sec
Oud sunday when she ran through
a revolving gale which was near
~ as terrific - that of the li;h.
/ he cross s"d created by the contrary
winds buffeted the yacht like a chip in Il
mill race and only the most skillful mani
pulation of the wheel prevented the waves
from landing on the deck and crushing it
in. She carried only foretrysail and jib-
stavsail reefed ami made considerab le
progress through it all.
Monday, March p, opened with propiti-
GUS breeze from the northwest but 1t was
as incOnstant rs had been all winds
heretofore during the trip. Soon after
Monday noon gale came from the north
east, and as the yacht had already been
driven farther south than the navigator
had intended and as beating to windward
was impossible, it was decided to keep her
Roadway TO the wind and wait for
more favorable breezes. The head wind
| continued blowing necessarily until We'd
| nesday noon when it gradually rounded to
the moth. During that As hours the
| yacht was almost aG a stand still averag
| ing under two knots. Last Thursday af-
ternoon 1t good sailing breeze arose from
! the southwest, continuing with more or
| less regularity throughout F"lday, Satur-
day and Sunday, giving opportunity fol-
rapid progress. During that period the
Coronet logged as high as IA knots. Miz
zenhead on the southwest coast of Ireland
was sighted at 6:21 in the morning
and at 7:40 Fastnet light bore north
northwest nine miles away. Yacht wa
then bowling along under all light sails
at the rate of IL knots an hour. At $50
Galeyhead was abreast, and then the
Cork pilot boat Columbine hove in sight
A. 1908, when the yacht was abrest Of
S9venheads, Pilot Robert WEIGH came or
| board with the news that the COrOnt
and into the harbor scores OF vessels o.
all sorts were passed. All dipped thei
ensigns to the winner and the crews o
all cheered. At 1870 the Coronet's anchor
was dropped off the Cork Yacht clul
house.